Bulgaria and Croatia share common ideas, principles and positions in the EU and NATO
29 May 2017 News
“Bulgaria and Croatia have traditionally friendly relations, they have engaged in an exceedingly active political dialogue in recent years, and we do not have any outstanding issues. I am happy that Minister Stier is the first foreign minister who is my guest. There is something symbolic in this, too, because our two countries share common ideas, principles and positions in the European Union and NATO.” The Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva made this statement emerging from a session with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia Davor Ivo Stier, who is paying an official visit here.
“The excellent bilateral cooperation also has a positive impact on economic relations between Bulgaria and Croatia. But since we believe that there is always room for improvement, during our talks today we mapped out certain additional measures for an increase of trade and economic contacts between the two countries,” Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva said. “We hope that the launch of a direct air service between the two capitals will contribute positively to an increase of the tourist traffic between Bulgaria and Croatia,” Zaharieva added. In her opinion, organising more joint business forums also provides an opportunity to deepen contacts in the economic sphere.
“I am glad to be visiting precisely in a jubilee year, when we mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Croatia,” Davor Ivo Stier said. He, too, underlined stressed the excellent friendly and partner relations between the two countries. “Economic cooperation is a very important aspect, and I fully share the opinion expressed that we can do more in this department and seek new mechanisms for its promotion,” Minister Stier pointed out. He added that his Bulgarian counterpart and he had commented on matters concerning energy and the European projects in this field, as well as Croatia’s plans to build a liquefied gas terminal on the Island of Krk by 2019. During the plenary talks, the Croatian side also showed interest in the subject of the construction of the Balkan gas hub.
“We also discussed the possibility of Croatia tapping Bulgaria’s experience of the absorption of EU funds. This is a key priority to us and must be part of our bilateral relations as well,” Davor Ivo Stier also said.
Challenges to the neighbours and stability in Southeastern Europe also figured high on the agenda of the two deputy prime ministers and foreign ministers. “We agreed that to the countries of the Western Balkans, there is no alternative other than a future in the EU – certainly, depending on each of those countries’ individual progress,” Ekaterina Zaharieva said. “The most pressing issue at present is the situation in the Republic of Macedonia. Both Bulgaria and Croatia expect the election of the new government. This will be a long awaited and important step towards normalising the political climate in Macedonia. We believe that the new government of Macedonia will immediately start work on all badly needed reforms so as to return the country to its European path,” the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister pointed out.
“I accepted Minister Stier’s invitation to attend the conclusive meeting of the Croatian Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process. I congratulate Croatia on its successful chairmanship. We regard the SEECP as the leading political format of regional cooperation because it involves all countries in the region,” Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva said.
“I hope that we will continue to share with Croatia common positions on issues of importance on the European agenda like Brexit, the future of the Union, energy cooperation, the common defence policy and Schengen,” Ekaterina Zaharieva noted further on.
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